Perhaps and due to certain first hand information from the former Futaba Spanish distributor and service I may give some light to this matter.

1.- First of all, FASST protocol IS NOT forbidden in Europe but from January 2015 it must work under LBT (Listen Before Transmit) conditions making communication and response a little bit slower.
2.- It seems some European Futaba FASST users have noticed that disadvantage and complained direct to Futaba and to certain distributors.
3.- Also there is a potentially important new European distributor very annoyed about FASST compatible receivers who asked Futaba for a firm and radical solution against them.

Under such conditions, best solution to me should have been to explain the technical compromise to annoyed FASST users (sure helicopter and 3D pilots mainly) and suggest them to switch to FASSTest protocol and ask the new distributor if Futaba should also give up S-FHSS protocol as compatible receivers are available for it too. Instead Futaba managers have decided to make unavailable FASST system on transmitters from 16iZ, making the transmitter unattractive to Futaba European users who want to upgrade their now old FASST radios while keeping their current stock of receivers.

So, unfortunately, it will be a very good moment to switch brand to old Futaba FASST users (a really Futaba shot on the feet!) who would like to keep with modern radios and I am quite sure that that same new European distributor will not take a too long time to offer their 16iZ conveniently configured to work on FASST protocol as an advantage against his competitors!

Ah!, the price difference between 16iZ and 16SZ is normal as Futaba has predicted a price for the new radio cheaper than current 16SZ.